A rare transit of the Strait of Hormuz by a Japanese VLCC since war broke out in the Middle East has been seen today along with at least two other vessels.
The 300,433 dwt, Panama-flagged, Idemitsu Maru transited the Strait of Hormuz today according to AIS data from Pole Star Global. The 2007-built tanker is operated and managed by Idemitsu Tanker Co Ltd. The apparently laden VLCC listed its destination as “FOR ORDERâ€.
Transits of the Strait of Hormuz by Japanese owners have been few since the onset of the war between US – Israel and Iran, with the country’s owners taking a conservative stance.
Two other vessels could be seen on AIS crossing the Strait around the same time as the Idemitsu Maru.
The Panama-flagged 46,048 dwt, chemical/product tanker Starway transited the Strait. The 2004-built vessel is owned by Hechuang International Group with a destination of Shinas port in Oman.
The Antigua & Barbuda-flagged container Paya Lebar also crossed the Strait of Hormuz destined for the Port of Nhava Sheva.
The Paya Lebar is operated by Sealead Shipping in Singapore and unusually had crossed into the Arabian Gulf through the Strait just over two weeks earlier on 13 April calling at Jebel Ali and Khalifa ports in the UAE and Hamad in Qatar.